Dermoscopy of solitary angiokeratomas: a morphological study

OBJECTIVES: To describe the dermoscopic structures and patterns associated with solitary angiokeratomas and to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and reproducibility of these dermoscopic features. DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective study. SETTING: University hospitals in Spain, Italy, Argentina, New York City, and Austria. PATIENTS: There were 256 patients total, and 32 specimens each of solitary angiokeratomas, melanocytic nevi, Spitz-Reed nevi, malignant melanomas, pigmented basal cell carcinomas, dermatofibromas, seborrheic keratoses, and other vascular lesions (19 angiomas, 7 pyogenic granulomas, 3 spider nevi, 2 lymphangiomas, and 1 venous lake) were consecutively collected from the laboratories of 8 hospitals. Diagnoses of all patients' lesions were confirmed histopathologically. INTERVENTION: Dermoscopic examination. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The frequency, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, intraobserver agreement, and interobserver agreement of the different dermoscopic features associated with solitary angiokeratomas were calculated, and the differences were evaluated using the chi(2) or Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Six dermoscopic structures were evident in at least 50% of the solitary angiokeratomas: dark lacunae (94%), whitish veil (91%), erythema (69%), peripheral erythema (53%), red lacunae (53%), and hemorrhagic crusts (53%). Dark lacunae exhibited a sensitivity of 93.8% and a specificity of 99.1% (P<.001 for both), not being found in malignant melanomas or pigmented basal cell carcinomas. The positive predictive value was 93.8%, and the negative predictive value was 99.1%. The intraobserver agreement was perfect (kappa, 1.00), and the interobserver agreement was excellent (kappa range, 0.83-1.00) (P<.001 for both). Pattern 1, consisting of dark lacunae and whitish veil, exhibited a sensitivity of 84.4% and a specificity of 99.1% and was not found in malignant melanomas or pigmented basal cell carcinomas. The positive predictive value was 93.1%, the negative predictive value was 97.8%, the intraobserver agreement was perfect (kappa, 1.00), and the interobserver agreement was excellent (kappa range, 0.83-1.00) (P<.001 for all). Conclusion Dermoscopy is helpful in improving the diagnostic accuracy of solitary angiokeratomas and allows the observer to differentiate them from other cutaneous tumors such as malignant melanomas and pigmented basal cell carcinomas.     

Evaluation of international treatment guidelines and prognostic tests for the treatment of early breast cancer

The clinical decision to treat early-stage breast cancer with adjuvant chemotherapy is sometimes a difficult one because 70–80% of patients who receive chemotherapy would probably have survived without it. To help clinicians in this decision-making process, different tools or ‘decision aids’ have been developed for the treatment of early breast cancer over the years. Some of these tools include clinical treatment guidelines and computer-based programs as well as different prognostic and/or predictive tests such as those based on gene expression profiles or the presence minimum invasive disease. All of these tools try to individualize as much as possible the estimation of the risk of breast cancer relapse and death and to facilitate the clinical decision about giving additional treatment, and ultimately the most appropriate treatment to be given.Thus, it is important for clinicians to be aware of not only the existence of these tools or ‘decision aids’, but also to know how they have been developed, how frequently there are revised and if they have been validated. In order to address all these concerns, we have carried out a critical review of the most important prognostic tests and clinical guidelines for the treatment of early breast cancer. Information regarding their development process as well as frequency of revision, validations that have been performed and main limitations of each tool were gathered and critically analyzed.     

Protracted neurocardiogenic reaction

Vasovagal reactions following catheterization procedures are relatively common complications, mostly in their milder forms. We present a case report of a young male undergoing selective coronarography with a dramatic postprocedural course including haemodynamic instability, and especially very late normalization of the neurological status.     

Prognostic significance of low volume sentinel lymph node disease in early-stage cervical cancer

Objective

Evaluate prognostic significance of low volume disease detected in sentinel nodes (SN) of patients with early stages cervical cancer. Although pathologic ultrastaging of SN allows for identification of low volume disease, including micro-metastasis and isolated tumor cells (ITC), in up to 15% of cases, prognostic significance of these findings is unknown.

Methods

A total of 645 records from 8 centers were retrospectively reviewed. Enrolled in our study were patients with early-stage cervical cancer who had undergone surgical treatment including SN biopsy followed by pelvic lymphadenectomy and pathologic ultrastaging of SN.

Results

Macrometastasis, micrometastasis, and ITC were detected by SN ultrastaging in 14.7%, 10.1%, and 4.5% patients respectively. False negativity of SN ultrastaging reached 2.8%. The presence of ITC was not associated with significant risk, both for recurrence free survival and overall survival. Overall survival was significantly reduced in patients with macrometastasis and micrometastasis; hazard ratio for overall survival reached 6.85 (95% CI, 2.59-18.05) and 6.86 (95% CI, 2.09-22.61) respectively. Presence of micrometastasis was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in a multivariable model.

Conclusion

Presence of micrometastasis in SN in patients with early stage cervical cancer was associated with significant reduction of overall survival, which was equivalent to patients with macrometastasis. No prognostic significance was found for ITC. These data highlight the importance of SN biopsy and pathologic ultrastaging for the management of cervical cancer.     

Alcohol consumption in pregnancy: results from the general practice setting

Background

There is no established safe level of alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Studies from Ireland have consistently shown lower abstention and higher binge drinking rates in pregnancy than other countries, indicating a high potential for foetal alcohol-related disorders. There has been little research on alcohol in pregnancy in primary care.

Aims

To determine the prevalence of alcohol consumption amongst pregnant women attending their GP for antenatal care, and to compare this to use in the year prior to conception.

Methods

Prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in fifteen teaching practices in the greater Dublin area. Women were recruited at their antenatal visits. Data were gathered by self-completed questionnaire in the practice, or researcher-administered telephone questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on the AUDIT, a WHO-validated data collection instrument designed for use in primary care.

Results

Two hundred and forty valid questionnaires were returned (80 % recruitment rate). Alcohol intake and binge drinking levels were much lower during pregnancy compared to the year prior to pregnancy (p < 0.001). There was a marked reduction in the prevalence of alcohol use in pregnancy compared to previous research. Over 97 % drink no more than once a week, including almost two-thirds of women who abstain totally from alcohol in pregnancy. Non-pregnant Irish women drink alcohol more frequently, and with higher rates of binge drinking, than women of other nationalities.

Conclusions

Primary care is a suitable setting to research alcohol use in pregnancy. Alcohol use in pregnancy in Ireland has decreased markedly compared to previous research from this jurisdiction.